Last night, adjuncts from Broward and Miami Dade College joined fast food workers, airport workers, and others from Fight for 15 to ask questions at the Florida Freedom Forum, the first South Florida debate for the gubernatorial Democratic primary. Hundreds of people filled the Miramar Cultural Center to capacity and pushed into an overflow room to view the live stream. Laura Pierre, of Fight for 15, asked about raising the minimum wage. Nancy Fernandes, an adjunct at Broward College, asked the candidates about reinvesting in education, fully funding free universal college and ensuring fair pay for educators.

“As an adjunct professor at Broward College, every day I see the impact of a broken higher education system. Budget cuts in Tallahassee mean more families are drowning in the student loan debts and my colleagues, many with PhDs, make poverty wages,” asked Nancy. “ Will you commit to reinvest in education and educators by fully funding free universal college for all Floridians?”